Very deep crimson in colour. Sweet, lifted aromas of red currants, briary plums, cassis and violets with hints of anise. The elegantly layered palate shows dark plum and mulberry flavours with fine acidity that adds finesse to the silky long tannins on the finish.

Grape Variety

50% shiraz, 20% cabernet sauvignon, 19% merlot, 11% cabernet franc and grown in the Barossa (Eden Valley and Barossa Valley).

Technical Details

Harvest Date: 27 Feb-12 April
Alcohol: 14.5% | pH: 3.51 | Acidity: 6.7 g/L |

Maturation

Matured in 30% new, 70% seasoned French and American oak hogsheads for 18 months prior to blending and bottling.

Background

The Barossa hills village of Keyneton, pioneered by pastoralist Joseph Keynes in 1842, was a musical and cultural focus for early settlers, such as the Henschke Family Brass Band and the Henschke Winery. This brass band survived generations and featured wonderful wind instruments such as a B flat euphonium, cornet and E flat clarinet, which have been restored and are still in the family. The historic Keyneton district has been the home of up to seven wineries during its period of settlement. The B flat euphonium, a large brass wind instrument, was made by the famous Zimmermann factory in Leipzig, Germany, in the late 19th century. A musical entrepreneur, Carl Engel of Adelaide was responsible for importing musical instruments into South Australia at this time. It has a deep amber coloured lacquer and is adorned with decorative metalwork on the body and slides not seen on more recent instruments. Again, it has a warmer and more subtle tonal quality than its modern counterparts.

Vintage Description

The 2007 vintage shaped up to be another high quality year but with significantly reduced yields in Eden Valley and average yields in the Adelaide Hills. The highly publicised drought of 2006 was reported as the worst ever. Certainly the rainfall at Eden Valley for the three months of winter at only 90mm compared to the average of 200mm was one of our driest. Despite an early winter break, rainfall during winter and spring was the worst for years in the lead-up to flowering. There was significant spring frost damage in Eden Valley, with a yield loss of 20-25%, compounded by the drought and lack of subsoil moisture with overall losses of up to 50% anticipated. Brief heat waves occurred during January; otherwise it was mild and dry. At the end of January a tropical air mass connected with a cold front to bring good rains to the agricultural areas of South Australia, with flooding up north. The 70mm rainfall fell steadily over four days, coinciding with veraison, which freshened up the vine canopy to assist with ripening the fruit for harvest. February was recorded as the hottest for 100 years, which brought the already reduced crop to an earlier ripening phase.

Wine Description

Deep crimson in colour. A complex bouquet of cassis, blackberries and cedar with savoury nuances of tar and roasted meats. Sweet, ripe, lush fruit and velvety, fine-grained tannins create a palate of excellent balance and length.

Cellaring Potential

Great vintage, drink now to 2022.